We Will Get Divorced: The Perfect Divorce Plan of the Sacrificial Daughter and the Cold-Blooded Soldier - Chapter 35

“This way, Sierra.”

Following Julian’s lead, I stepped onto the mansion’s second-floor balcony. It was the same spot where I’d looked up and seen Julian while walking with Amy that one time.

“The stars are beautiful tonight.”

“You’re right. They’re incredibly beautiful.”

We stood side by side on the balcony, leaving just one tile’s worth of distance between us. In the cloudless night sky, thousands of stars twinkled as if chatting with each other. Julian rested his right hand on the balcony railing, bathing comfortably in the night breeze.

“The first time I thought coming here was worth it was when I saw the stars from this spot.”

“Do you like stars, my lord?”

“I do. It’s my mother’s influence.”

“Your mother? That’s somewhat surprising.”

“Is it?”

“Yes. I never imagined the Immortal King would have such a fairy-tale-like preference.”

“I know it doesn’t suit me.”

“Not at all. She sounds like a wonderful mother.”

“…You’re the first person to say that.”

“Huh?”

“Shooting star.”

Julian indicated the night sky with his gaze. I immediately looked up too, but I couldn’t see any star trails.

Was my reaction simply too slow, or did he want to change the subject?

I couldn’t tell anything from Julian’s profile.

“Even on brutal battlefields, the stars alone remain beautiful.”

“You look at stars even on battlefields?”

“There’s nothing else to look at. There were many nights on the battlefield when I thought I couldn’t go on, but the stars kept shining unchanged. It felt like they were cheering me on, and that comforted me.”

“Does even the Immortal King ever feel cornered?”

Surprised, I looked up at Julian beside me.

“What do you take me for?”

He laughed as if exasperated.

“What do I… Well, you’re the invincible Immortal… King… Ah…”

I couldn’t finish my words.

I had finally realized the meaning behind that title.

A shudder ran through me.

Instantly, Julian’s smile blended with the night sky.

“Sierra, what’s wrong?”

I hadn’t even noticed I’d started crying.

“I’m sorry, my lord. I… I never realized, I’ve been using that name so casually… Ah, I’m sorry.”

“Sierra…”

“I’m sorry, my lord.”

Why hadn’t I realized until now?

The Immortal King.

The strongest warrior who successfully completed countless dangerous missions where survival seemed impossible, always returning alive.

But first of all, why did he have to undertake such dangerous missions where survival seemed impossible?

Why were such dangerous missions assigned to him so many times?

Because Julian is strong? No.

Because people thought it would be fine if Julian died.

Because he’s the child of a concubine. Because he’s disposable. Rather, because it would be better if he were gone.

Julian can’t refuse. Because they hold hostages.

In exchange for the hostages’ lives, Julian has been used as a pawn over and over again, so many times that he came to be called the Immortal King.

By none other than his own father, Chrislan. Why hadn’t I realized until now?

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry… I’m so sorry.”

“It’s nothing for you to worry about. So, don’t cry.”

“But I…”

I couldn’t forgive myself. What must Julian have felt every time I called him the Immortal King?

“It’s fine. I didn’t bring you here to make you sad. Let’s talk about something more enjoyable. Like the stars visible in summer, or the comets that come in summer… Sorry, I keep coming back to stars.”

“No, I want to hear. Please tell me about the stars, my lord.”

I wiped my tears with enough force to tear my eyeballs out.

Don’t cry, you foolish woman. I have no right to cry. I have no right to make Julian, who’s suffered enough to dry his tears, comfort me instead. Stop, stupid tears. Devil’s water that steals strength from the body.

“Hyah!”

“Sierra?”

I slapped my cheek with all my might. That’s right, psych yourself up. Laugh like your life depends on it.

“Sorry to keep you waiting. Please tell me about the stars!”

Forcing my stinging cheek upward into a smile,

“—!”

Julian burst out laughing as if he couldn’t help it.

“My lord?”

“D-don’t look at me, Sierra.”

Liar, that’s terrible.

“No, that’s not what I meant. Your cheek… there’s a handprint…”

“Handprint…?”

Ah, from the slap. Is it there? No wonder it hurts. Though my tears of sorrow have receded, another kind of tears threatens to overflow.

“P-please spare me. I’m the one who wants to entertain you. Don’t make me laugh.”

Julian covered his face with both hands, shoulders shaking.

Somehow, I’m sorry. Why is it that lately, every time I try to do something seriously, I feel like someone’s laughing at me.

When Julian’s shaking finally subsided, he looked at my face again.

“Such a small hand.”

“…Huh?”

He matched his palm to the handprint on my cheek. A large, bony, warm palm.

“If I slap my own cheek, would Sierra laugh for me?”

“N-no, my lord mustn’t do that. Just please tell me about the stars.”

“Understood. Speaking of which, it’s almost meteor shower season.”

“Yes. The season of ‘Prayer Rain.'”

“‘Prayer Rain’… Is that what they call it in Eirondale?”

“Yes. Because the meteors fall during the harvest prayer festival, they’re called prayer rain. Does Vraogone have a different name?”

“Ah, well… yeah. Mostly different names. If we watch from here, the meteor shower should look even more beautiful.”

“Yes, it would be nice if we could watch it together.”

“Eh?”

Julian turned toward me with a surprised expression. His reaction seemed unusually strong, so,

“Ah, no, that’s not it. I just thought since it would be so beautiful, I’d rather watch it with someone than alone.”

I too ended up blurting out a meaningless excuse in my surprise.

“I see.”

Then Julian, for some reason, showed a slightly embarrassed expression.

“If it’s clear…”

“Yes?”

“If it’s clear, let’s watch it together.”

He said it in an uncharacteristically weak voice. Perhaps he was really concerned about the weather, as he was staring intently at the sky.

“I hope it’s clear.”

I looked up at the sky too.

The edge of Julian’s profile against the night sky looked slightly red—was it because he’d been laughing so hard earlier?

The night wind blew across the balcony. My hair brushed against Julian’s shoulder.

“The wind’s picking up. Let’s head back.”

“Yes.”

For several minutes after that, we didn’t move from the balcony.

The next day, I woke up feeling unusually refreshed.

Seeing off the always energetic Amy as usual, I left my room with better posture than normal.

Alright, I’ll decide today. Today I’ll convince Arcadia. Judging from his tone last night, Arcadia should be coming at me with everything he’s got. In that case, he’ll probably join breakfast too.

What method will that pretty boy use to pressure me from the morning? Will he try to charm me, push through with conversation, or maybe deliberately hold back? There’s even a possibility he’ll flash money.

Or perhaps—

“Don’t move.”

“…Eh?”

Someone grabbed my arm from behind and pressed a blade against my neck.

“Come with me. Don’t make a sound.”

This was completely unexpected.